• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Detroit Steering Wheel Theft is on the Rise

May 7, 2021 By Nadeem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - Detroit Steering Wheel Theft is on the Rise

Thieves in the Detroit area are steeling Chevy Equinox and Malibu steering wheels for their airbags, and officials blame the coronavirus pandemic.

The thieves took 11 steering wheels in just the first three days of May, targeting auto shops and homes with cars parked out front.

One of the victims, an Eastpointe woman, said she was surprised that thieves targeted her steering wheel and nothing else.

“When I looked up, my driver’s side rear window was broken, glass all over the place,” she told Fox 2. “Not a big deal, I open the driver’s side door and I had no steering wheel.”

Local shops said they noticed an uptick in blackmarket airbag sales around the time factories slowed down due to the pandemic.

“That’s when we noticed a lot more of them coming in. and with the shut down it’s hard to get parts,” said John Channell of Stan Yee Auto Repair.

It’s a win-win for thieves and shady auto shops. The robbers sell the stolen goods to shops for $50 to $300. And the shops charge upwards of $2,000 to car owners to replace airbags and steering wheels.

“This is straight cash, you can take it to different shops that may be able to buy it,” Channell added. “And (they will) give you cash for that immediately. Then, they will just put it into a car where this already happened.”

Legitimate shops that want to help can’t do much, as there’s a shortage in parts. So when cars with missing steering wheels come in, they just sit and wait for parts on backorder.

Of course, airbag theft isn’t new. About 50 thousand airbags are stolen every year in the United States, costing owners more than $50 million, according to National Insurance Crime Bureau.

As Detroit-area police search for the thieves, they’re warning auto shops and people with garages to keep their cars locked away. If that’s not possible, buy an anti-theft club that goes on the steering wheel. It might not stop a theft, but it could serve as a hassle and deterrent.

Filed Under: Archive, Crime Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Malibu, Coronavirus, Steering Wheel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chuck says

    May 12, 2021 at 10:44 am

    I have several books available. 248 363 5025

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • Leather Craft
  • Keyston Bros
  • Hyde Leather
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Albright's Supply

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Exact Art Fabrications - Starlight Headliner

How to Fabricate a Starlight Headliner

Starlight headliners that create the illusion … [more] about How to Fabricate a Starlight Headliner

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - 1974 Lamborghini Espada

Lambo Stitching with Brent Parker 2

Earlier this month, Brent Parker of Brent … [more] about Lambo Stitching with Brent Parker 2

Auto Upholstery News - The Hog Ring - Carlex Design - Mercedes-Benz SLS Black Series

Carlex Design Trims a Mercedes SLS AMG

What happens when Polish automotive trim shop … [more] about Carlex Design Trims a Mercedes SLS AMG

The Hog Ring - How to make a seat from scratch

How to Upholster a Car Seat From Scratch

Check out this awesome guide on how to … [more] about How to Upholster a Car Seat From Scratch

The Hog Ring - What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

What did auto trim shops look like 150 years … [more] about What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Fisher Auto Trim, Glass and Upholstery

Instead of Art, Let’s Make Some Money!

My name is Marc Fisher, owner of Auto Trim by … [more] about Instead of Art, Let’s Make Some Money!

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Subaru Seat Bolsters Are Failing. Here’s How to Fix Them (and Make Money)
  • Support Trimmers Affected by Catastrophic Flooding in Texas
  • Mercedes Reimagines Comfort with Custom Fit, 3D Printed Seat Pads
  • Wishing You a Happy Independence Day!
  • The Viral Headrest Gun Safe Is Going Nationwide with Tint World

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in